Railway traffic controlling apparatus



May l5, '1945,

HIS ATTORNEY Patented May 15, 1945 RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Walter W. Wenholz, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Union Switch and Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 27, 1943, Serial No. 496,290

1 Claim.

.relay at crossoversin interlocking systems.

One object of my invention is to provide circuit means of the type described which makes possible the use of a minimum number of wires, and which at the same time checks all important circuit elements in such manner that a failure of any of these elements will readily be detected.

According to my invention, the switch indication relay which-A is of the usual polar-neutral type, is controlled jointly by contacts of the circuit controllers of each of the switch operating mechanisms which opera-te the switches of the crossover between their normal and reverse positions, and also by contacts of control devices which are provided for controlling the operating of the switch operating mechanisms. The indication relay is provided with a normal indication circuit closed only when all of the contacts of both the circuit controller and the control devices are in their normal positions, with a reverse indication circuit closed only when all of the contacts of both the circuit controller and the control devices are in their reverse positions, and with a plurality of shunt circuits which become closed when either switch is unlocked or either control device occupies a position out of agreement with that of the associated switch or that which it should occupy with respect to the other control device under any condition of operation. Each of the contacts which is included in any of the shunt circuits isalso included in either the normal or reverse indication circuit with the re sult that when either the normal or reverse indication circuit becomes closed, some assurance is provided that the shunt circuits will be eiective when the switches are next reversed.

Other objects and characteristic features of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

I shall describe one form of railway traflc controlling apparatus embodying my invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claim.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view showing one form of railway traflic controlling apparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing, the reference characters SWI and SW2 designate track switches located at the opposite ends of a crossover I which connects main tracks 2 and 3. The switches are operated by switch `operating mechanisms SMI and SM2 which may be of any suitable type, but

which as here shown are of a well known electro- Dneumatic type such as is disclosed for example in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,791,799, granted to John P. Coleman on February 10, 1931, for Railway trafc controlling apparatus.

Included in the switch operating mechanisms SMI and SM2 are circuit controllers CCI and CO2 each comprising four movable contact lingers 4, 5, 6 and l. These contact ngers are operated jointly by the associated switch operating mechanism and by the associated track switch through the medium of any suitable operating means indicated by the dash lines I0, and are so controlled that the lingers 4 and 6 engage fixed contact members 4a and 6a, respectively, to close contacts 4-4a and lf3-6a when and only when the switch points are locked in their full normal positions, and engage xed contact members 4b and 5b to close contacts Il--llb and G-Gb at all other times. Similarly, the contacts 5 and 'I engage fixed contact members 5a and Ia to close contacts 5-5a and 'I-la when and only when the switch points are locked in theirfull normal positions and engage other xed contact members 5b and 'Ib to close contacts 5--5b and 'I- `lb at all other times. v

Associated with each switch operating mechanism is a suitable control device designated by the reference character CP with a suitable distinguishing suffix. These control devices may be of any suitable type which, when energized in the proper manner, will cause the switch operating mechanism to reverse the position of the switch, and each of these devices includes a pair of contacts 8 and 9 which are operated to normal or reverse positions to close normal contacts 8-8a and 9-9a or reverse contacts 8-8b and 9 9?) according as the control device is energized to effect the operation of the switch to its normal or to its reverse position. Each control device also includes means which when the contacts are operated to either extreme position is effective to retain the contacts in such position until the control device is subsequently energized to reev verse the switch. One control device which may be used when the switch operating mechanisms are of the electropneumatic type is shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,875,853, granted to John P. Coleman on September. 6, 1942, and is widely known commercially as the Style CP switch valve.

The control devices CPI and CP2 are controlled ,by a lever L which may, for example, be the switch lever of an interlocking machine located at a point remote from the switch as in a control cabin. The control of the control devices by the lever forms no part of my present invention, and may for example be similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned Coleman Patent No. 1,875,853. Since the control of the control devices by the lever L forms no part of my invention, it is believed to be suiiicient for purposes of my present disclosure to point out that the devices CPI and CP2 will be conditioned to cause the switches to move to their normal positions when the lever L occupies its normal position as shown and to the reverse positions when the lever L is moved to its reverse or dotted line position.

The reference character WP designates a switch repeating relay of the usual polar neutral type, which' relay is provided to indicate the positions and locked or unlocked conditions of the switches SWI and SW2. The relay is controlled jointly by the contacts of the control devicesCPI and vCP2 `and the contacts of the circuit Controllers CCI and CC2 over circuits which form the subject matter of my present invention, and

' which circuits will be described in detail presently. The relay WP may be located at any desired location, and may be used for any desired purpose, such for example as the selection of signal circuits, `the release or operation of suitable latch mechanism provided in -connection I with the lever L, or for'any other purpose which requires a repeater of the track switch position and condition. The circuits controlled by the relay WP are immaterial to my present invention and are accordingly indicated `in the drawing merely by the legend selected circuits.

As shown in the drawing, all parts are in their normal positions, and under these conditions relay WP is energized with current of normal polarity over a normal energizing circuit which passes from terminal B of a suitable source of current not shown in the drawing, through wire II, contact 6--6a of circuit controller CC2, wires I2 and I3, normal contact 8-8a of device CP2, wire I4, contact S--Ba of circuit controller CCI, wires ILS'and I6, normal contact 8`8a of device CPI, wire I.'I,`the winding of relay WP, wire I8, normal contact 9-9a of device CPI, wire I9, contact I-'Ib of circuit controller CCI, wire 20, contact 45-51) of circuit controller CCI, wire 2I, contact '1 -4d of circuit controller CCI, wires 22, 23 and `24, contact T-'Ib of circuit controller CCI, Wire ,25, contact 5-5b of circuit controller CC2, wire 2S, contact 4-4a of circuit controller CCI,

'and wirel 21 to the other terminal C of the source.

It will be noted that this circuit is .carried over all of the .contacts of both 'circuit controllers which are normally closed when the switches are properly locked in their normal positions and also over all oi the normal contacts of the devices CPI and CP2 except the contact S-Sa of device CP2. This is important for reasons which will be made clear as the description proceeds.

The energization of relay WP which results from theclosing of the normal energizing circuit just tracedcauses its polar contacts to be moved to their left-hand positionsand its front contacts to beclosed, to thereby close theselected circuits controlledby these contacts. The closing `of these circuits .provides an indication that the switches are both locked vin their normal positions.

When itis desired to reverse theswitches SWI and SW2 to route traihc over the crossover, lever `L is moved vfrom the extreme or normal yposition shown to its opposite or reverse extreme position.

This causes a change in the energization of the control devices, and assuming that these devices both respond properly they will each open their normal contacts and close their reverse contacts before the switch operating mechanisms start to respond. As soon as the control devices open their normal contacts, the normal energizing circuit for relay WP is interrupted at three different points, namely, at each of the normal contacts 8-8a and 9-9a of device CPI and also at the normal contact S-Ba of device CP2, and it follows therefore that relay WP will become deenergized immediately upon the response of either one of the devicesCPI or CP2 to the reversal of lever L. Furthermore, as soon as the reverse contacts B--Bb and 9-9b of the device CPI be come closed, a shunt circuit is completed which short circuits the winding of relay WP to insure its deenergization. This latter circuit may be traced from the right-hand terminal of relay WP through wire I'I, reverse contact 8-8b of device CPI, wire I9, contact 'I-'Ib of circuit Acontroller CCI, wires 20 and v28, reverse contact 9-9b of device CPI, `and wire I8 to the left-hand terminal of relay WP.

If the device CPI had responded to the reversal of 'lever L but the device CP2 had failed to respond, the operation of relay WP wouldhave been exactly as just described except for the fact that under these conditions the normal energizing circuit for this relay would only have become opened at normal contacts 8-8a and 9-9a of the device CP I.

If the device CP2 had responded to the reversal of lever L but the device CPI had failed to respond then the normal energizing circuit for relay WP would only have become interrupted at normal contact 8-8a of device CP2, and the winding of relay WP instead of becoming short circuited by virtue of the shunt circuit including reverse contacts 8-8b and B-Bb of device CPI would have become short circuited by virtue of another shunt circuit which may be traced from the right-hand terminal of relay WP through wire I1, normal contact 8--8a of device CPI, wires I6 and I5, contact B-Ia of circuit controller CCI, wire I4, reverse contact 8-8b of device CP2, wires 24, 23 and 22, contact II-da of circuit controller CCI, wire 2|, contact 5--5b of circuit controller CCI, wire 20, contact 'I-'Ib of circuit controller CCI, wire I9, normal contact 9-9a of device CPI and wire I8 to the other terminal of relay WP.

I shall now assume that both control devices CPI and CP2 have responded in the intended manner to the reversal of lever L, and that as a result of` this response, both switch operating mechanisms are set into operation to reverse the track switches. As soon as the operation of each switch operating mechanism is initiated, it acts to unlock the associated switch, and this unlocking movement causes the associated circuit controlled to open its contacts 4-4a and i-'Ga and close its contacts 4-4b and I--Sb- When the contacts 4-4a and 6-6a of either controller become opened, the normal energizing circuit for relay WP becomes additionally opened at these contacts. lThe closing of the contacts L -4b and 5-61) of either circuit controller, however, has no effect on the operation of relay WP under these conditions since the winding of relay WP is already short circuited by virtue of the previously traced short circuit including reverse contacts 8-8b and 9--917 of device CPI and contact 'I-lb ofcircuit controller CCI.

tact G Gb of circuit controller CCZ, wire Contact 4 4b of circuit controller CC2, wire 25x',`

When the switches reach their reverse posi-- tions and become locked in these positions, the' circuit controllers CCI and CC2 are lagain actuated to open contacts 5 5b and 'I lb and close contacts 5 5a and 1 Td. The opening of contact 'I Ib of circuit controller CCI interrupts the shunt circuit for relay WP which was previously closed at this contact, while the closing of contacts 5 5a and I 'Ia of both circuit controllers completes a reverse energizing circuit for relay. WP. This latter circuit may be traced from terminal B of the source through contact 1 1a of circuit controller CC2,.wires 25 and 29, reverse contact 9 9b of device CP2, wire 3'0, contact' 1 'Ia of circuit controller CCI, wires 20 and 28, reverse contact 9 911v of device CPI, wire I8, the winding of relay WP, wire I1, contact 8 8b of device CPI, wire I9, contact B Gb of circuit controller CCI, wire I5, contact 4 4b of circuit controller CCI, wire 2|, contact 5 5a of circuit controller CCI, wires 23 and 24, conand contact 5 5a of circuit controller CC2 to terminal C. The closing of the reverse enelgizing circuit for relay WP causes it to move its polar contact to the right-hand position and its front contact to again become closed, to thereby control the selectedfcircuit controlled by these contacts. The closing of this latter circuit provides an indication that both switches are in their reverse positions and are locked in these positions.

It will be noted that t-he reverse energizing cirlocked in their reverse positions and also'over all of the reverse contacts of the devices CPI and CP2 except reverse Contact 8 8b of device CP2. 'Ilhis is an important feature of the circuits embodying my invention for reasons which will be made clear presently.

When it is, desired to restore the switches to their normal positions, lever L is restored to its normal position. When this happens' if the devices CPI and CP2 respond properly, they kwill open their reverse contacts and close their normal contacts before any operation of the switch operating mechanisms is initiated. As soon as the devices CPI and CP2 open their reverse contacts, the reverse energizing circuit which was previously closed becomes interrupted at both reverse contacts 8 8b and 9 9b of device CPI and also at reverse contact 9 9b of device CP2, and as soon as normal contacts 8-8a and 9 9a of device CPI become closed, a shunt circuit is completed for relay WP which may be traced from the right-hand terminal of relay WP, through wire I'I, normal contact 8 8a of device CPI, wires I6 and I5, contact S-b of circuit controller CCI, wire I9, normal contact 9 9a. of device CPI, and wire vIt to the other terminal of relay WP. Itfollows, therefore, that when the switches SWI and SW2 both occupy their reverse positions and lever L is moved to its normal position to restore the switches to their normal positions, relay WP will become de* energized. immediately upon the response of either one of the devices CPI or CP2 to the re versal of the lever. Furthermore, as soon as normal contacts 8 8a and 9 9a of the device CPI become closed, the winding of relay WP will become short circ-uited to insure that this relay will remain. deenergized during the subsequent transit of the switches. v

vIf device CP2 had failed to respond to the reversal of leverfL, the reverse energizing circuit for relay WP would not have become interrupted at reverse Contact 9 9b of device CP2, but except for this fact there would be no other change in the effect of the reversal of the lever or the operation of relay WP.

If device CP2 had responded to the reversal of the leverfL but relay CPI had failed to respond, then the normal energizing circuit for relay WP would only have become interrupted at contact 9 9b of device CP2, and under these conditions relay WP instead of becoming short circuited by virtue of the circuit including normal contacts B Ba and 9-9a of device CPI would have become short circuited by virtue of' another shunt circuit which may be traced from the right-hand terminal of relay WP through wireI'l, reverse contact 8 8b-of device CPI, wire I9, contact 9 5!) of circuit controller CCI, wire I5, contact 4 4?) of circuit controller CCI, wire 2|, contact 5 5a of circuit controller CCI, wires 23 and 24, normal contact 9 9@ of device CP2, Wire 39, contact 'I 'la of circuit controller CCI, wires 20 and 28, reverse contact 9 9b of device CPI and wire I8 to the othei1 termianl of relay WP.

Assuming now that both circuit controllers have responded to the movement of lever L from its reverse to its normal position, and' that as a result both switch operating mechanisms are set into operation, as soon as the operation' of the switch machine is initiated, both circuit con-- trollers will open their contacts 5 5a and 'I TU, and will close their contacts 5 5?) and 'Ib. The opening of contacts 5 5a and 'I 'Ia of these circuit controllers will additionally interrupt the `reverse energizing circuit for relay WP but since this circuit is already open, the opening of these contacts will have no effect on the voperation of relay WP. The closing of contacts `5 511 and 'I lb of these circuit controllers likewise has no effect on the operation of relay WP since this relay is already short circuited by virtue of the previously described shunt circuit,

When the switches reach their full normal positions and become locked in these positions, contacts 4 419` .and B Bb of both circuit controllers become opened and contacts 4 4a and B-Ia of both circuit controllers become closed. The opening of contact B Gb of circuit controller CCI interrupts the shunt circuit which was previously closed for relay WP while the closing of contacts 4 4a and B Ba of both circuit controllers completes'the previously traced normal energizing circuit for relay WP. When this circuit becomes closed, all parts are restored to their normal positions in which they are shown in the drawing.

If when the switches are in their normal positions and are locked in these positions, the switch points of switch SWI become displaced for any reason, such for example, as by a train trailing the switch, the resultant movement of the switch points will operate the circuit controller CCI to open its contacts 4 611 and E Ea and close its contacts 4 4b and B Sb. The opening of contacts 4 4a and 6 6a will interrupt the normal energizing circuit for relay WP while the closing of contact 6 6?) will complete the previously traced shunt circuit for relay WP including normal contacts 8 8a and 9 9a of control device CPI and contact 6 6b. Relay WP will therefore become deenergized to indicate the fact that the switch is unsafe for trailic over it.

Similarly, if when the switches are in their normal positions and the points of switch SW2 become Adisplaced for any reason, the resultant opening of contacts 4-411 and 6-6a of circuit controller CC2 will interrupt the normal energizing circuit for relay WP while the closing of contact I-Bb will complete another shunt circuit for relay WP which may be traced from the right-hand terminal of relay WP through wire II, normal contact 8-80l of device CPI, wires I6 and I5, contact G-Iia of circuit controller CCI, wire I4, normal contact 8--8a of device CP2, wire I3, wire I2 and contact Ii-Eb of circuit controller ,CCI in multiple with contact 4-4b of circuit controller CC2, wire 26, contact 5-5b of circuit controller CC2, wire 25, and contact 'I-lb of circuit controller CC2, and thence through wires 24, 23 and 22, contact 4-4a of circuit controller CCI, wire 2|, contact 5-5b of circuit controller CCI, wire 20, contact 'I-Ib of circuit controller CCI, wire I9, normal contact 9-9a of device CPI, and wire I8 to the other terminal of relay WP. The interruptionA of the normal energizing circuit for relay WP and the closing of this shunt circuit will cause relay WP to become deenergized and thus give an indication that switch SW2 is unsafe for trahie.'-

I'f the switch points of switch SWZI become displaced when the switches are in their reverse positionsfthe resultant opening of contacts 5-5a and 'I-'Ia of circuit controller CCI will interrupt the reverse energizing circuit for relay WP while the closing of contact 'I-'Ib of this circuit controller will complete the previously traced shunt circuit for relay WP including reverse contacts B-Bb and 9-9b of device CPI and contact 'I--Tb of circuit controller CCI. This will again result in relay WP becoming deenergized to indicate -that switch SWI is unsafe.

Likewise, if the switch points of switch swz become displaced when the switches are locked in their reverse positions, the resultant opening of contacts 5-5a and 'I-'Ia of circuit controller CCZ will interrupt the reverse energizing circuit for relay WP while the closing of contact 'I--lb of circuit controller CC2 will complete another shunt circuit for relay WP passing from the right hand terminal of relay WP through wire I'I, reverse contact 8-8b of device CPI, wire I9, contact G-Iib of circuit controller CCI, wire I5, contact lI-4b of circuit controller CCI, wire 2l, contact 5-5a of circuit controller CCI, wires 23 and 24, contact I-'Ib of circuit controller CCZ in multiple with contact li- 6b of circuit controller CC2, wire I2, contact 4-4b of circuit controller CC2, wire 2S, and Contact 5-5b of circuit controller `CC2, wires 25 and 29, reverse Contact S-Sb of device CP2, wire 30, Contact I-'Ia of circuit controller CCI, wires 20 and 28, reverse contact 9-9b of device CPI, and wire I8 back to relay WP. Relay WP will therefore become deenergized and thus provide an indication of the condition of switch SW2.

It should be particularly pointed out that with the various energizing and shunt circuits for reley WP arranged in the above described manner, each of the contacts which is included in one of the shunt circuits is also included in either the normal or reverse energizing circuit for relay WP, and as a result if either the normal or reverse energizing circuit becomes closed in the corresponding position of the switches, it is some assurance that the various shunt circuits will become effective at the proper time to prevent the false energization of relay WP due to crosses, grounds or the like.

It should also be pointed out that these results are accomplished with only two wires between the relay WP and the nearest switch, and with only three wires to each successive switch, it being understood that when more than two switches are controlled by lever L, the circuits for relay WP would be extended from the switch SW2 to the next switch in the same manner that they are extended from the switch SWI to the switch SW2.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of railway trailic controlling apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the' scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In combination, a railway switch. a switch operating mechanism for said switch operable between normal and reverse positions and operatively connected with the switch for moving it between its normal and reverse positions, a control device for said mechanism provided with two 'normal and two reverse contacts closed respectively when the device is conditioned to cause the associated mechanism to assume its normal or reverse position; a circuit controller associated with said mechanism and including a first pair of contacts closed when and only when said switch is locked in its normal position by said mechanism, a second pair of contacts closed at all times except when said switch is locked in its normal position, a third pair of contacts closed only when said switch is locked in its reverse position, and a fourth pair of contacts closed at all times except when said switch is locked in its reverse position; an indication relay of the polarneutral type; a normal energizing circuit for said relay including both normal contacts of said control device, and the contacts of said first and fourth pairs, a reverse energizing circuit including both reverse contacts of said control device and the contacts of said second and third pairs; a rst shunt circuit for said polar relay including both reverse contacts of said control device and one of the contacts of said fourth pair, and a second shunt circuit for said polar relay includingr both normal contacts of said control device and one of the contacts lof said second pair.

WALTER W. WENHOLZ. 

